$200,000 donation to grow mental
health outreach to vulnerable people in the community
WINNIPEG, Jan. 16, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell Let's Talk
and the City of Winnipeg today
announced a combined donation of $200,000 to Bear Clan Patrol, the community-based
organization providing safety and belonging, mental wellness
support, conflict resolution and crime prevention for vulnerable
people in the community.
This new funding will help Bear Clan Patrol expand patrol
coverage, grow its food distribution program and add a new
resource for the counselling program.
"Bell Let's Talk is proud to join with the City of Winnipeg to help Bear Clan Patrol in
its work to provide a safe and supportive environment for members
of the community struggling with mental health challenges," said
Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's
Talk. "Bear Clan Patrol is having a positive impact on the lives of
the most vulnerable in Winnipeg
and we are pleased to support the impressive work they are
doing."
"I am happy to be able to support the Bear Clan Patrol which has
had a tremendously positive impact in our community," said Mayor
Brian Bowman. "Their work continues
to be a source of pride and inspiration while providing a
volunteer-based community service. It is wonderful to see Bell
Let's Talk putting significant dollars toward the Bear Clan and I
commend them on their support."
Bell Let's Talk's donation of $150,000 and the City
of Winnipeg's $50,000 donation
will allow Bear Clan Patrol volunteers and staff to increase
engagement to as many as 1,450 people per week from the current
capacity of 450. Additional funding will also grow the food
distribution program capacity from 250 people per week to 750, and
also support a new resource and weekly counselling program for 25
people.
"Over the last four years, The Winnipeg Bear Clan Patrol has
provided community-based solutions that offer a sense of safety and
kinship to both our members and the people we serve," said James
Favel, Executive Director of Bear Clan Patrol Inc. "It's amazing
what a group of people with a purpose can accomplish and our
volunteers and staff are deeply gratified by this kind of support
from Bell Let's Talk and the City of
Winnipeg."
Bell Let's Talk in Manitoba
With the launch of Bell MTS in
Manitoba in 2017, Bell Let's Talk
announced it would further expand in the province with the launch
of a dedicated fund for Indigenous mental health. Today's
announcement is the third major commitment from the fund, following
donations in May 2017 to Ma Mawi Wi
Chi Itata and in January 2018 to
Ogijiita Pimatiswin Kinamatwin. The Bell Let's Talk team continues
to consult with leaders from Manitoba Indigenous communities on
plans for future program funding.
Bell Let's Talk Day is January
30
Everyone is invited to join the conversation on
Bell Let's Talk Day by sending messages of support across multiple
platforms to drive awareness and action in mental health.
Bell will donate 5 cents to
Canadian mental health programs for each of the following
interactions on Bell Let's Talk Day, at no extra cost to
participants beyond what they would normally pay their service
provider for online or phone access:
- Talk: Every mobile call and every long distance call made by
Bell and Bell MTS wireless and phone customers
- Text: Every text message sent by Bell and Bell MTS wireless
customers
- Twitter: Every tweet and retweet using #BellLetsTalk, featuring
the special Bell Let's Talk emoji, and Bell Let's Talk Day video
view at Twitter.com/Bell_LetsTalk
- Facebook: Every view of the Bell Let's Talk Day video at
Facebook.com/BellLetsTalk and use of the Bell Let's Talk frame
- Instagram: Every Bell Let's Talk Day video view at
Instagram.com/bell_letstalk
- Snapchat: Every use of the Bell Let's Talk filter and video
view
To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
Total Bell Let's Talk Day interactions since the first event in
2011 stand at 867,449,649 and are expected to exceed 1 billion on
January 30. Bell's funding commitment
for mental health, including the company's donations based on Bell
Let's Talk engagement and its original $50-million donation to launch the initiative, is
now $93,423,628.80 and expected to
surpass $100 million on January 30.
About Bell Let's Talk
The Bell Let's Talk mental
health initiative is focused on 4 key action pillars: Anti-stigma,
Care and Access, Research and Workplace Leadership. Since its
launch in September 2010, Bell Let's
Talk has partnered with more than 900 organizations providing
mental health services throughout Canada, including major donations
to hospitals, universities and other care and research
organizations. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.
Media inquiries:
Morgan Shipley
Bell MTS Media Relations
204-391-2849
morgan.shipley@bellmts.ca
@Bell_LetsTalk
@Bell_News
SOURCE Bell Canada